Melting The Cold Female Duke

Chapter 19

At exactly 12 o'clock in the afternoon, I decided to visit my rumored mother that has been residing in the west wing for how many years.

In the long train of the hallway which leads to the west part of the mansion, I alone walks on the path, because my bodyguard was unavailable to be tag along this visit of mine.

I remember his condition earlier, and it was not good. His body should rest, so I decided to let him sleep in my office to lessen his fatigue.

We had a trip tomorrow, if he can't recover his strength by today or tomorrow, then I'm leaving him here at the mansion.

As I walk through the hallway which I thought had no other presence of another being, I saw the three maids that I had eavesdropped 2 days ago.

They are carrying baskets full of laundry. I can tell that the maids were nervous, judging from how they walk and converse at each other.

-These maids can help me achieve my quest in finding my rumored mother-

I walk closer to them, and they have not noticed me since I saw them chatting an important topic.

-Are they talking behind my back?-

They better not, or I might throw them in a lion's den.

I already know they won't notice me since they had their backs to me, and I know that my presence can be detected by normal persons.

As I grew closer to them, I heard the blonde maid uttered my title.

"The duke would surely skin as alive or even worse." The blonde told the two black haired maids carrying baskets, the expected punishments that I would decide to go for.

I wonder how she can say that emotionless to them, which I guess her friends or just fellow maids.

The black haired girl with her brown eyes watching the blonde maid spoke, those consequences shook tremendously.

I bet she can't believe such harsh punishment would be done by a human being, but she is wrong, I can do that without batting an eye.

My objective is not to eavesdrop their conversation, but to meet that woman and to clear all my doubts of having a mother.

It's still 12 o'clock in the afternoon so when I walk nearer to them my shadow grow longer as my body was hit by the full of pride sun.

One of the maids, the one with the black hair and black eyes bowing down, noticed my shadow approaching them.

She stared as it grew closer to them. The blonde was still talking and discussing what castigation and punishments would I throw upon them.

As the other one was still trembling and was about to cry hearing the cruel punishments.

The maid bowing down finally had the courage to where the shadow belongs to.

When she saw my face, her eye widened at the realization that they were talking about me, and I'm right behind them eavesdropping their exchange.

Before she warns the other two, she stared at me for 5 seconds, then grabs the talking blonde maid's sleeve and interrupted her.

"Stop talking Penelope."

The blonde maid still didn't notice me and glance at girl.

"Alisha, I'm just…" she seems to find the girl named Alisha strange since she is staring at my direction horrified, so she too takes a peek at what the maid Alisha is looking to make her reveal such expression.

When she saw me along with the trembling maid, she gulps and at the same time the trembling maid gasp and covers her mouth with tears forming in her eyes.

"What?" I professed annoyed and frowned at their expression.

I held my head high, watching them with contemplative eyes. I hate such disgusting reactions.

"If you don't quit revealing such an angry expression wobbly maid, then I'll make you my present to the hungry little cubs."

After I spoke, the three fixed their facial expression, but I can still saw through them. They are scared as bunnies within the dwelling of a fox.

"You, Alisha, right? Accompany me to the west wing." I point my finger at the most composed maid out of the three.

"Yes, duke. I'm Alisha, and I'll be happy to accompany you." She puts down the basket and mimic the manner of headmaid Lorna.

She must have seen the headmaid served me. Headmaid Lorna was strict especially when it comes down to serving me, whether be it an extra or formal service.

As a result, the servants here are disciplined and always carry a poker face, but these new recruits are still being trained, so they are not good compared to those maids who were here longer.

I started walking and the maid Alisha started following me in a formal posture with her hands down and touched together along with the famous poker face.

At our way, I was in a muddle state in picking which path would I choose to enter when there are too many, and I'm not familiar with this place at all, in which is which is connected to the west wing.

Luckily, I had a maid with me who was more familiar with this west wing place.

"Duke Alyssum, this is the path though the hallway that was connected to the west wing." The maid with me told me kindly.

-Hmm

I hate being told, however I don't have a choice but to follow her instructions and reminders.

"I believe you can shut your mouth about this, right? If you won't, I'll make sure that you won't utter a single word again, for the rest of your life." I threatened her with my signature smile.

"Yes, duke Alyssum." She obediently bows her head while speaking.

-That's more like it.

After a whole 30 minutes of making mistakes in entering paths and walking, we finally arrived at the west wing.

"Where is my mother's room?" I asked the maid behind me.

"Up in the tower, there your mother resides, duke Alyssum." Like last time, she bows her head while informing to me.

Just as the maid had said to me, I climb the tower where that woman is. I'm impressed that the maid is still fine even with those tiring walks. It is as if she was accustomed to this kind of activity.

I glance at her direction and noticing me looking at her, she bows her head to avoid meeting me in the eye.

I halted my steps and without turning around I asked.

"You're not tired yet? Are you serving that woman residing up in the tower?"

As expected, the maid confirmed my suspicion.

"I can still walk and yes, duke Alyssum, I'm serving your mother." I know she still bows her head even without me witnessing it.

After a long walk upwards to the tower, we finally arrived at our destination.

All in all, I counted the knights and not guards, and there were 10 of them guarding the tower. Seems that woman is so important to the late landlord. Those knights were his personal-trained dogs. I can't believe he made those elite knights to be just mere guards for that woman.

"We have arrived, duke Alyssum." The maid Alisha informed me.

I'm looking at the closed wooden door, contemplating if it is the best thing to meet that woman now, but it would be such a waste if I won't, remembering my efforts, I'm not backing now.

I glance at the two knights guarding the door, hinting them to open it, and they did what I wanted them to do.

Without knocking, they open the wooden door wide for me to enter.

"Stay here." I was referring to the maid behind me.

What I get is a simple 'Yes' and a bow.

Without being told to enter, I went inside normally. It seems that these knights are used to see me visiting the woman.

As I went inside successfully, I saw a brown haired woman resting peacefully. She seems familiar to me.

-Where did I saw this woman?

I noticed 4 people, 2 old 2 young maids to be precise, standing near curtains. So they are care taker of the woman whose eyes were closed.

Her hair was the same as me, brown and a bit curly, her features are similar to mine. I can't deny the fact that we had too many in common.

I gesture one of the older maid to come to me.

"Is my mother okay?" I asked, and purposely mentioned mother so that I could verify if that woman was truly was my mother.

"Young duke, your mother was still suffering from the mana illness, but she is stable, for now." The old maid replied to me with her worried face. It was so evident that she cares about that woman.

-She's still asleep, it's better to leave this letter-

I reach my pocket, I was wearing a pair of leather pants and a green shirt adorn with black robe along with a pair of black boots.

I touch the letter and hand it to the old woman, which she wholeheartedly accepted and carefully place in an exquisite box.

"Take care of my mother." I told them, and left the room.

{Readers, I changed my writing style many times, but I'll this one, so I'm sticking to this style. Did you know I have been listening to music the whole time while writing this, sad music to be exact. In order to be an inspiring author, I experimented a lot. And also a kind reminder for the readers, I don't have an editor so no proof-editing.}

(Hi guys! Hope you like this chapter. If you caught some misspelled words, grammar errors, something that confused you, etc. Feel free to comment below. Have fun reading. Wink.)

1544 words

07/08/2022 12:10 pm